Cub Reporter wrote:
> On Sat, 10 May 2008 09:31:36 +0100, "Gaz" wrote:
>
>> "Dr Zoidberg" wrote in message
>> news:g03l3k$4p9$1@registered.motzarella.org...
>>> "Cub Reporter" wrote in message
>>> news:ifg924589lgkranqctfa3o92eu9ptfdrhq@4ax.com...
>>>> ...but OK at home. Regardless of the laws and customs of the foreign
>>>> country (and whether you took the 16-year-old with you presumably).
>>>>
>>>> News article:
>>>> =========================================
>>>> We will now be able to prosecute UK nationals here for a .ual
>>>> offence committed against a child anywhere in the world, so long as
>>>> the act committed would be a relevant offence in this country. We have
>>>> also raised the age of a child for these purposes from 16 to 18.
>>> Yes?
>>>
>>> What's the problem?
>>>
>>> Lots of things are illegal in some countries and not others so it's common
>>> sense that the local laws should apply.
>>>
>>> If it's illegal to have . with a 16 year old in that country then you
>>> could be prosecuted for doing so.
>>> If it's not illegal then you haven't done anything wrong.
>
>> Unless i am reading the article incorrectly though, doesnt it mean, that if
>> you go to a country where the AOC is 18, have ., you can face prosecution
>> back here in the UK, for something that isnt a criminal offence here????
>
> What's more to the point, if you go to a country with the *same* AOC
> as here (16), have . with a 16-year-old, you could be prosecuted
> when you come home.
>
> Presumably this would also apply if you took your 16-year-old
> girlfriend. If you were also 16, she could be prosecuted too. This
> might happen to married 16-year-olds unless there is a 'marriage
> exception' to the law.
>
> I'm surprised that contributors to this thread are failing to see the
> implications.
>
You've misunderstood what you posted, specifically:
"We will now be able to prosecute UK nationals here for a .ual
offence committed against a child anywhere in the world, so long as
the act committed would be a relevant offence in this country. We have
also raised the age of a child for these purposes from 16 to 18. This
has all been achieved through the Criminal Justice and Immigration
Bill which received Royal Assent on Thursday 8 May."
in other words if the act is illegal in the UK but in not the country
where the act happened then the person can be prosecuted in the UK. The
definition of a child for this purpose has been raised to 18. It doesn't
say that the AOC is 18 for everywhere outside the UK.
--
Robbie |